Boarstall Tower

Boarstall Tower stands beside a moat in the Buckinghamshire village of Boarstall. Built in the 14th century as a gatehouse for a larger manor, it is one of the few medieval moated buildings still standing in England. The brick and stone structure was once part of a fortified estate that defended the surrounding countryside. A legend links the tower to King Edward the Confessor, who rewarded a man named Neil for killing a wild boar in nearby Bernwood Forest. The name Boarstall comes from the Old English for ‘boar house’, and a horn from the slain beast became a symbol of the manor’s lordship. Manorial records from 1265 show the owner served as keeper of Bernwood Forest, keeping the story alive. The tower played a key role during the English Civil War. King Charles I used it as a garrison, but after Brill fell in 1643 it was taken by Parliamentarian forces under John Hampden. Later, Royalists led by Colonel Henry Gage returned fire so fiercely that Lady Dynham had to escape in disguise. In 1645 Sir Thomas Fairfax attacked but failed to capture the tower, only succeeding the following year after an 18-hour siege. The Dynham family later regained possession with help from relatives close to Oliver Cromwell. A large horn, once owned by Sir John Aubrey in the 19th century, is said to have marked the manor’s lord. Visitors find a grand gatehouse with thick walls and small windows designed for defence. The moat still surrounds the tower, adding to its medieval atmosphere. Inside, the rooms reflect its military past, with signs of the Civil War sieges still visible. The tower is now part of the National Trust’s gardens, where visitors can walk beside the water and imagine the battles once fought there. A short drive from Brill, it offers a quiet glimpse into England’s turbulent history. The horn from the legend is no longer on display, but the tower itself remains a powerful reminder of the past.